Ok, so today’s installment of my studio tour and organization is really more about thinking outside of the box and my dumb luck. I am blessed with not one, but TWO card catalogs. You know me and labels…I have all these drawers labeled and chock-full o’ crafty goodness. Glues, embossing powders, sewing notions, tools….heck I even have a drawer for Velcro! True, the drawers are small, but really deep so that you can cram a lot into the space. […]
Crafting Spaces for Spaces to Craft, Part One
I have my own space to craft- it’s the third floor of our house and is primarily in what used to be a guest bedroom. There is a full bathroom up there, too- so most of the time I have a place to wash out brushes, hand dyed fabric to dry, and wet-sand polymer clay beads without messing up the rest of the house. I thought I’d share one part of my studio today- my Polymer Clay desk. This is […]
Crafting for a Cause: Little Lion Designs
Last July when I was at the Cleveland Craft Coalition Show, I had the pleasure to meet Stephanie of Little Lion Designs. Her fabric collage pieces where colorful and delightful to behold, and when I found out that she uses her artwork to raise awareness, I knew I had to learn more about her and share her story with you. So, first and foremost, Stephanie Urban is a mom. She gave birth to a baby girl, Kaia, May 30th 2009. […]
Crafting Field Trip: Stamplistic in Amherst, OH
Wonder what a CraftTestDummy does on a weekend? Sometimes I make a big mess….and sometimes I go shopping. I took a little field trip to Stamplistic, and wonderful (and sadly my ONLY) semi-local independently-owned scrapbooking and stamping store. What makes Stamplisitic special is that they carry such a marvelous collection of scrapbooking, stamping AND mixed-media supplies. From Adirondack inks to Zentangles, they’ve really got something for everyone. They’ve also recently moved- and their new, shiny scrapping mecca on Cooper-Foster Park […]
Crafting for a Cause: Jason Orpe ALS Mojo Fest
Just found out about this craft-tastic fundraiser via Vicki Howell, and felt moved to pass it along. Watch the video to hear about Jason and Mojo Fest, then do what you can. Craft on!
Visit to the Amercian Folk Art Museum- part one
When I was in NYC a week ago- (geez, it already feels like a MONTH ago I was at Martha Stewart’s Blogger’s Night Out!) I took a quick side trip to the American Folk Art Museum. It was Sunday morning and I had to catch a flight home, and I only had an hour. Not enough time for MoMA, sadly- Matisse needs a little more leeway than that- and MoMA’s pricetag was a little…pricey! So I ventured right next door […]
Tour of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Offices
If you read my post yesterday about the Martha Stewart “Blogger’s Night Out,” you know that I left you hanging with a tease about my private tour of the MSLO offices. Let’s just take a moment to savor those words, shall we? Private. Tour. It was almost as nerve-wrackingly exciting as going to the actual party. But better. Without the noise and the crowds, it was soooo much easier to take in everything. So here’s the deal- no photos inside […]
Martha Stewart Blogger’s Night Out Party
I did a full-on, whole body “Happy Dance” when I got the invitation to Martha Stewart’s “Blogger’s Night Out” party in New York City at her Martha Stewart Omnimedia offices. First thought: “AH! I got an invite!”(Kinda cool for little ol’ me!) Then “OH! I get to see the offices where the magic happens!” (It’s a good thing!) Then: “Ohhh- what ever do I WEAR?!? (I’m not kidding. This is how I think.) I was heading to BlogHer 10 anyway, […]
New “Creative Layers” Stamps from Collage Artist Claudine Hellmuth and Ranger
Another debut at CHA Summer 2010 are the new coordinated stamp lines from Ranger Industries designed by Claudine Hellmuth (aka Collage Artist) called “Creative Layers.” Her new stamps features both foam stamps and coordinating line designs for easy layering and mixing and matching. Claudine has a whole line of fine-arts supplies for discerning crafters, so it’s no surprise that she uses that aesthetic for stamping. Take a look at her demo video: As I always, say, Claudine is just SO […]
Color Inspiration (from reader Erin)
I LOVE comments on my blog, and the other day I received one from Erin who blogs at Treasures Found:: Inspiration is Everywhere. She was responding to a guest post by Lisa on finding inspiration for papercrafting, and Erin had a valuable two-cents-worth to chime in. So instead of just approving her comment, I’m adding it in full here so you can follow HER links to inspire you. Thanks, Erin! Inspiration is a HUGE thing for me (it is the […]
Guest Blogger Lisa Falduto: 5 Sources for Paper Crafting Inspiration
I’m so pleased that my crafty BFF & paper crafts specialist is back for another post- so take it away, Lisa! Have you ever had a time where you felt like sitting down to craft and you just couldn’t seem to get started? Or you felt tired of crafting with the same style and wanted to try something new? You just needed some kind of crafty inspiration to get you enthused and rolling? I can tell you this has happened […]
Recycled Bicycle Art by Joseph Dull
When your creative juices dry up a bit, one of the best things to do is to visit an arts and crafts venue. I had my lovely friend Nicole as a houseguest last week, and we did just that at the Open Air in Market Square in Ohio City. While I took in some fabulous handmade art, one really stood out- recycled bicycle art by Joseph Dull. Take a look: He scavenges broken bikes and solders colorful stained glass in […]
Suze Weinberg + CraftTestDummies=Fun at CHA Summer!
Jenny meets crafting legend Suze Weinberg for a craft lesson with the hot wax stylus tool.
Viva Decor, Lisa Pavelka and me…at CHA Summer 2009
Jenny visits Viva Decor to see their line of crafts, craft tools, Pardo polymer clay and paints. Endorsed by Lisa Pavelka, too.
Celebrity Crafter Rosie O’Donnell Sells for Charity on Etsy
Comedianne and celebrity crafter Rosie O’Donnell raises money for her Broadway Kids charity by selling her handmade art on Etsy.com
Free SteamPunk Polymer Clay Heart Project
I am a big fan of Steam Punk, and a big fan of Polymer Clay… so how much am I loving the two together??!! Yeah, about that much. So I’m really excited to share that CF Originals is offering a FREE download of the SteamPunk Heart project (among some other free-bees and “for-cost” projects, as well as some tools/materials.) Not to mention eye-candy.
Pretty Little Things… from Sally Jean
Most of you know that I love, love, love Sally Jean…. her artwork is fun and whimsical, and her soldering is top-notch. I had a pretty good month in July, and I actually made some cash from teaching my craft classes. So I bought myself a little somthing pretty, of course! This is what she calls her “knockers” (har, har!)- two sides of an acrylic hemisphere with artwork captured inside. What’s fun about these is that you get to choose […]
Hooray for Headbands and Heather Bailey
The weather here in NE Ohio has been sticky-hot this week, and my curly hair is getting on my nerves. I’m always up for a new hair gizzie (as they are affectionately called in my family) and Heather Bailey of www.HelloMyNameisHeather.com has a quick and FREE tutorial on making fabric headbands. Yay! She has a great blog, and designs the most scrummy fabrics. Totally cool. And the free tute also has multiple sizes so you and your tot can rock […]
Mokume Gane Workshop with Julie Picarello
Honey, I’m home! And I’ve brought back new pieces and techniques from my workshop with Julie Picarello at her lovely home studio in El Dorado, California. I’ll get more into details soon, but I just HAD to get some photos up ASAP of the work I produced, and my co-conspirators in class…. feast your eyes, details to follow! Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
Lunch with Wendy & New Artitst’s Way Retreat
So life comes full circle. A lovely woman who attended one of my classes during the Artist’s Way Retreat in 2005 is now planning her own retreat in September. Tentatively dubbed “The New Artist’s Way Retreat,” lovely Wendy is spreading her own wings and planning a weekend of creativity and reflection. I am pleased and honored to be part of her new venture. I’ll be facilitating the Madonna art doll pins. I love the pins, the process, and sharing them […]
